The most effective way to prevent hearing loss from occurring in the first place is to protect your ears, especially when exposed to loud environments for extended periods of time. Noise is all around us in the world, and Portland is no exception. If you’re a Timbers or Trailblazers fan, for example, you’ll want to have hearing protection as part of your regular game day ensemble.
Extended exposure to noise over 85 decibels, which is louder than a window air conditioner, noisy restaurant or heavy traffic – can lead to permanent hearing loss. At Portland Audiology Clinic, we take hearing protection to heart, but with a compassionate touch, providing our patients with the best solution for their lifestyle and budget. Portland Audiology Clinic offers a range of products for hearing protection, including:
- Custom-made earplugs
- Custom-made earmolds
- Solutions for musicians
- Solutions for hunters
- Electronic shooters protection: Electronic Shooters Protection enables individuals who enjoy the sport of hunting to go out with their pack without putting their hearing at risk.
Earplugs and earmolds
Custom-made hearing protection truly is suitable for individuals with interests beyond our major sports teams. The most common forms of hearing protection are earplugs and earmolds. Earplugs and earmolds are typically soft or hard molds made to fit the contours of your ear canal. Earplugs are conic shaped and are often softer and squishier than earmolds. Earmolds are larger, filling the outer ear. Both offer great protection, though earmolds offer a better fit. Earplugs and earmolds are great for:
Hunting: Designed to keep you safe while hunting, this protection blocks out game sounds.
Music: Whether you enjoy concerts or play an instrument yourself, hearing protection designed for musicians helps you hear the sounds you need to, while still preventing damage.
Sleeping: If you need peace and quiet night, consider custom earplugs to block out any miscellaneous nighttime sounds.
Swimming: Too much exposure to water can cause ear infections. Keep your hearing safe while enjoying a dip in the pool.
Motorsports: Motorsports are notoriously hard on the ears. Wear custom protection to block out roaring engine sounds.
Occupational: Your job shouldn’t be hard on your ears. Consider a selection of custom earplugs, earmuffs or earmolds to protect your ears on the job.
ICustom: Designed to keep you safe while listening to music with your earbuds or earphones.
DefendEar products: Specially designed to amplify for situational awareness, DefendEar products help you hear what you need to while blocking out damaging volumes.
Hearing protection for musicians
In support of Portland’s amazing and unique music scene and all the talented artists behind it, we offer hearing protection solutions for musicians. Constant exposure to loud music – whether you listen to or play it – can cause irreversible hearing loss. However, with in-ear monitors, sound can be delivered to the ear while creating a barrier to potentially damaging background noise. In-ear monitors, which can come with custom earplugs or earmolds, are suitable for a number of individuals associated with the music industry, including:
- Music producers
- Nightclub workers or patrons
- Entertainment industry staff
- Students or teachers in a school band or orchestra
- Conductors
Hunting:
Hunting, shooting and sudden noise. A filter instantaneously closes when damaging noise levels are reached. Allows essentially normal hearing at all other times.
Music:
Ideal for performing musicians and concert-goers. Also great for flight attendants, bartenders, waiters, dental professionals. Allows wearer to hear sounds accurately, but at reduced levels. Three filter options available: 9dB, 15dB or 25dB.
Swimming:
For swimming and showering – and they FLOAT! Also provide superb noise reduction.
Sleep:
Offers comfortable and uninterrupted rest. Also great for shift workers with non-traditional hours.
Motorsport:
Designed with a hollow canal for under helmet use to reduce wind buffeting.
Surf:
Designed to prevent surfer’s ear and swimmer’s ear caused by exposure to cold water and wind. The floatable material is molded with a sealed membrane spanning the sound bore that keeps cold water and air out of the ear canal, but allows for conversation and hearing while in the ear.
Occupational:
Ideal for high-noise industrial environments.
iCustom:
For use with any bud/button style earphones.
DefendEar 1:
Amplification for situational awareness, as well as noise attenuation when you pull the trigger.
DefendEar 2:
Offers two modes, game, which is optimized for intermittent shots, and clay mode, which is optimized for continued shots.
DefendEar Hunter:
Offers standard digital features and provides protection in windy environments.